Memorophilia (2006)

I cameacross this poem by the American poetJohn Ciardi and since I write a lot about memories, the two combined into the music found on Memorophilia.

“And the time sundials tellMay be minutes and hours. But it may just as wellBe seconds and sparkles, or seasons and flowers.No, I don’t think of time as just minutes and hours.Time can be heartbeats, or bird songs, or miles,Or waves on a beach, or ants in their files(They do move like seconds—just watch their feet go:Tick-tick-tick, like a clock). You’ll learn as you growThat whatever there is in a garden, the sunCounts up on its dial. By the time it is doneOur sundial—or someone’s— will certainly addAll the good things there are. Yes, and all of the bad.And if anyone’s here for the finish, the sunWill have told him—by sundial—how well we have done.How well we have done, or how badly. Alas,That is a long thought. Let me hope we all pass.”

Now I’ve heard Memorophilia I intend to seek out more of the work by this talented duo. They have a distinctive sound and style which I thought occasionally verged on the baroque. The unabashed pretty and innocent, but not superficial, melodies make it a delightful album.

They consistently deliver some of the most engaging, likable, yet unique electronic instrumental music, spanning several genres, that I have heard over the years. So much of what’s on Memorophilia will probably put a smile on your face or set your feet a tapping that I believe only the most stubborn curmudgeons would not enjoy at least some, if not all, of this album. I highly recommend it, especiallyto fans of European chill-out and electronic new age music.